The Science of Rituals and the Power of Patterns

Some patterns we create are conscious and some unconscious. Recent studies are pointing more and more to the power of repetition in creating habits and in empowering healing. A ritual is an intentional structured pattern not too dissimilar from the pattern of morning coffee with the intention of waking up or a Saturday morning jog to energize our wellbeing.

With repetition we create patterns in our lives and pathways in our body and brain. The repetitive patterns become superhighways of conditioning intimately connected to our overall wellbeing. So, why not empower the power of repetition with intention?

The ancient practice of ritual invites in the opportunity to create intentional patterns in our lives reminding us of our true nature and our connection to something greater than ourselves. Recent studies have also pointed to rituals being a natural stress-buster and a powerful tool to manage anxiety. Through the repetitive and structured practice of ritual, we build pathways of intentional integration and explore sacred meanings in the mundane.

Enjoy this short and simple 3-step body-centered breathing ritual below to begin each morning with awareness and consciousness.

SIMPLE Body Current® PRACTICE:

1) As you begin to open your eyes for the first time, begin your morning ritual by becoming aware of your breath. What’s it’s texture? Is the current of your breath slow, shallow, fast, smooth? Is your breath fluid, grounding, erratic, fiery? Notice the currents of sensation arising in your body and thoughts flowing through your brain as simple streams of consciousness rather than judging or resisting what is arising.

Take 30 seconds or more to allow for this experience in following and attuning to your breath. What do you notice as begin your day slowly awakening to these free flowing streams?

2) Begin to engage with your breath for 3 or more breath cycles creating slow, smooth currents rising and falling through your body. Become deeply aware of the sensations and emotions arising as you slowly come out of your dreamworld and engage with your breath.

3) End with 3 or more conscious breath cycles as you slowly begin to get out of bed. Feel your feet on the floor as you slowly unfurl your body to stand.

Imagine, or perhaps feel, a stream of color(s) or a vibration aligned with your felt-sense of that intention merging with and running through your brain and body, breath by breath.

Take another 3 or more slow smooth breath cycles. State your intention silently our out loud igniting your intention as you step into your day.

4) Find one adjective to describe how you feel beginning your day in this way.

According to a recent article by Thrive Global,

“Rituals are a natural anxiety buster. Makes sense. We’ve long known about their powerful anxiolytic properties. It’s no coincidence, for instance, that most religious prayer-based behaviors are intensely ritualistic. In fact, early proto-rituals preceded all forms of religious belief. When I say they’re old, I mean they are seriously ancient. Now, you may be thinking that this is obvious. Of course rituals have help to relieve anxiety. And on the surface, it is indeed obvious. But if we go deeper, we begin to see why and how it is that rituals (religious or otherwise) help alleviate stress and anxiety. The new science of ritual is shedding light on these whys and hows.”, Nick Hobson, Behavioral scientist and expert on peak mental performance.

Shanti Medina, CYT CPT is the founder of Energize training systems and Body Current® therapeutics. She enjoys supporting elite athletes and everyday warriors to live a life of well-being, optimized performance and wild inspiration through simple practices of embodied self-realization. Shanti teaches her Body Current® curriculum as a bridge between modern-day neuroscience and ancient yoga therapy and has enjoyed being part of a variety of 500HR Yoga Teacher Trainings and as faculty at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She is passionate about empowering her clients and students to use their breath, brain and body to reveal, energize and experience their abiding true nature and innate healing wisdom through mind entrainment body-centered practices stimulating and regulating the currents of the Autonomic and Central nervous systems.

You can find out more about Shanti, learn about upcoming retreats around the globe and schedule a private session in person or via Zoom at www.EnergizeShanti.com